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When the Polo was launched on the market in 1975, it was the third Volkswagen of a new era after the Passat (1973) and the Golf (1974). Like them, it also became a world bestseller. The Polo has been shaping the small car segment for 50 years now, with more than 20 million units sold. It stands for affordable entry-level mobility from Volkswagen with a coherent overall concept comprising a fair price-performance ratio, high utility value and pioneering technology for the small car class. Furthermore, it impresses with its appealing design, which is still popular today and made the model a bestseller. In every generation, the Polo has offered more space and comfort, more efficient engines and innovative safety features. Today also, the small car boasts assist and convenience systems that are otherwise available only in higher vehicle classes. The success story is ongoing – the Polo still enjoys great popularity to this day: with more than 500,000 units delivered, it was also one of the Volkswagen Group’s most successful models worldwide in 2024. This makes it a small Volkswagen with a big history. The 50 years of the Polo exhibition shows the many facets of the model – perfected over five decades and producing many derivatives: in six generations, a variety of body shapes, sporty, particularly efficient, colourful, with an off-road look or an even highly dynamic one. Extraordinary concept vehicles complete the selection. Some models can also be driven – such as the original Polo from 1975, the Polo II G40 (1992) or the Polo V R WRC Street all-wheel drive (2013). Have fun at this special exhibition. Yours Volkswagen Classic Communications Model overview Six generations 01. Polo I L (1977) 02. Polo II CL Formula E (1983) 03. Polo III Open Air (1997) 04. Cross Polo IV (2006) 05. Polo V R WRC Street (2013) 06. Polo VI Style (2024) Small and fast 07. Polo I Hill Climb Race Car (1977) 08. Polo II Coupé G40 Cup (1986) 09. Polo IV Cup prototype (2004) 10.

At the time, it became the smallest member of a new, modern model range alongside the Passat, Scirocco, and Golf. From a technical perspective, the small car was based on the Audi 50, which had been available since October 1974; the two cars were identical in design, with the exception of a few parts. The high-revving 0.9-litre engine also came from the Audi factory in Ingolstadt. Providing 29 kW (40 PS), it powered the Polo (which weighed just 685 kilogrammes) to speeds of up to 132 km/h. The three-door small car offered a range of equipment that was well-crafted, but had been reduced to the most necessary items to allow the vehicle to be sold at an affordable price. The Polo N was the entry-level version, available from DM 7,500, while the Polo L was available for an additional DM 510. The superior “L” equipment included a two-stage heater blower, intermittent windscreen wipers, and carpet. In 1976, 37 kW and 44 kW (50 PS and 60 PS) engines were added to the range, and a model update provided a more modern look. In 1977, the Derby notchback saloon was launched as an additional body variant. The Polo GT arrived in 1979, offering a sporty look. Customers looking to reduce their fuel consumption could opt for the 1981 Polo Formel E, which included fuel-saving technology. 1.1 MILLION TOTAL PRODUCTION WORLDWIDE DERBY I, 1977 Saloon with notchback, the first derivative of the Polo POLO I, 1979 Model update with more voluminous plastic bumpers and plastic radiator grille “Polo. A short car makes a big impression.” POLO I ADVERT, 1975 4 5 LESS IS MORE 50 YEARS OF POLO GENERATION I AUDI OR VOLKSWAGEN? The differences are marginal, only the roof rounding at the sides was different. SPIRITUAL TWINS The Audi 50 and the Volkswagen Polo not only have many things in common on the outside. MODERN LAYOUT A compact all-in-one solution with clean lines and a wide-opening boot lid. The early seventies were a turbulent time for the Wolfsburg-based car manufacturer.

At this time, Giorgetto Giugiaro, who also creates the Passat and the Scirocco, is already in charge of the design. Under the direction of chief designer Herbert Schäfer, the Golf is further developed for series production. 1969–1971 VOLKSWAGEN EA 337 Step-by-step Golf Initially with rectangular headlights and a flatter windscreen, then further refined. Sporty centre Good overall concept, but room for improvement in the detail. 1969 VOLKSWAGEN EA 276 8 | 9 50 J ah re G ol f Sc hö pf un g ENTERING A NEW AGE Clear lines, pure design – the new Volkswagen was a revolutionary development in 1974. Giorgetto Giugiaro designed the Golf and created an icon, no less. Giorgetto Giugiaro, one of the most important automotive designers of our time, stands for simplicity and innovative design – and he also played an important role for Volkswagen. With the creation of a new model family, Giugiaro also designed Volkswagen’s new style from 1970. Maestro Giugiaro still likes to remember the creation of the Golf even after decades, and spoke about it with the Volkswagen Classic editorial team at Italdesign in Turin a few years ago. At the first meeting in Wolfsburg in January 1970, the then Volkswagen CEO Kurt Lotz quickly got to the point: ‘We want you to design a successor to the Beetle for us. And we will be satisfied if the space in the interior is about the same as that of the Beetle,’ recalled Giugiaro. There were also already specifications from Volkswagen: ‘They showed me sketches and diagrams, and then talked about the project of an entire model family and asked if I would be prepared to take on the task – and I was extremely happy about this opportunity.’ The ideas about the new model type were just as specific. ‘The new mass-produced car should be a modern compact car with a boot lid – in other words, a variable vehicle in line with the new trend. Volkswagen already recognised that correctly back then.’

THE PASSAT IS THE BEST-SELLING MID-SIZE MODEL IN THE WORLD 18 December 2018: more than 29 million Passat, eight generations of the car, have been sold so far across the world. 150 MILLION VOLKSWAGEN 24 August 2017 Volkswagen has assembled exactly 150 million vehicles since production began roughly 72 years ago. MILLION VEHICLES FROM WOLFSBURG 5 June 2018 Volkswagen’s main plant in Wolfsburg has produced 45 million vehicles since the start of series production in December 1945. No other location within the group has built more vehicles. 60 MILLION ENGINES FROM SALZGITTER 12 February 2019 The 60 millionth engine since production started 49 years ago is manufactured at the Volkswagen plant in Salzgitter. MILLION TIGUAN January 2019 Historic production milestone: in just eleven years, five million vehicles from the compact SUV range have rolled off the production line. 1 2 3 The most successful models in Volkswagen history: 1st place: Golf (over 35 million) 2nd place: Passat (over 29 million) 3rd place: Beetle (over 21.5 million) 111,111,111 10 11 Volkswagen Records. ID. R Records. Volkswagen Records. ID. R Records. 1 Americans also call the hill climb on Pikes Peak the “Race to the Clouds”. At times, the ID. R was actually above the clouds in the top section of the route, on the final kilometres before the summit. 2 Romain Dumas has driven pretty much anything on four wheels over the course of his career – from desert buggy at the Dakar Rally to LMP1 prototype for his two victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He claimed his fourth victory on Pikes Peak with the Volkswagen ID. R. 3 Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets is visibly relieved – shortly after Romain Dumas’ record attempt, a change in the weather brought heavy hailstorms. “That is one of the features of this race – you need to have a bit of luck too,” said Smeets. Pikes Peak was merely the beginning. When Romain Dumas guided the fully-electric ID.